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Oakbank Racing legend John Glatz fighting for life after trying to save his Woodside house

Oakbank Racing Club former chairman John Glatz is fighting for his life in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after trying to save his house and horses on his Woodside property. According to family, the entire property was razed to the ground.

John Glatz pictured at the Oakbank Racing Club in 2016 after receiving an OAM for service to the racing industry. Picture Dean Martin
John Glatz pictured at the Oakbank Racing Club in 2016 after receiving an OAM for service to the racing industry. Picture Dean Martin

Oakbank Racing Club former chairman John Glatz is fighting for his life in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after trying to save his house and horses on his Woodside property.

Mr Glatz, 73, Oakbank chairman for more than 25 years before stepping down in 2016, is in the Intensive Care Unit at the RAH in an induced coma with severe burns.

He had surgery last night and his wife Merri, who escaped the blaze after Mr Glatz convinced her to leave, and their two adult children, are with him.

He is in a critical but stable condition with burns to 60 per cent of his body.

Mr Glatz was helping battle an inferno near his house close to the Bird In Hand Winery that claimed both his house and the house of fellow horse trainer Mark Faust.

Mr Glatz is believed to have been found in his tractor by a police office.

In a statement to the Sunday Mail Mr Glatz’s daughter Lucy Brooks, who also lives in the area, said her father had convinced his wife Merri to leave but decided he would stay to save what he could.

“Mum got out but Dad stayed to try and protect his property. He was found later after the fire had passed,” Mrs Brooks said.

“We haven’t been able to see him yet but we know he’s in good hands.

“He had skin grafts last night and will have further surgery tomorrow.”

Mrs Brooks said the entire Glatz property had been razed to the ground.

“It’s typical of dad to try and rescue what he could but my parent’s entire property has been lost,” she said.

“Dad’s a very stubborn man and that’s what will hopefully bring him through.”

Mrs Brooks said her husband Rob Brooks was still in the hills mending fences to try and keep livestock safe after the fires reached the lawns of their own hills farm property.

Family friend Roma Williams said she was shocked to hear Mr Glatz’s name mentioned by emergency services.

She had rushed home from work to check on the extensive property and livestock at Woodside of her mother, Frances Nelson QC.

“I came from work to check the house and heard John’s name come over a police radio,” she said.

“I was shocked. Then an unmarked police car went tearing off and I heard later he (Mr Glatz) was in a bad way and off to the RAH.

“John’s renowned for his stubbornness and if anyone is going to pull through it will be him.”

Ms Williams said her mother’s house and property was safe but it had been “a close-run thing”.

“Just potluck really,” she added.

“The wind changed and the fire jumped Jacaranda Drive and raced off over the hill heading Brukunga way.”

Ms Williams who’s mother Frances is also in hospital undergoing a hip replacement operation, said the house of the next door neighbour at Woodside had been lost and at least one other house in the close vicinity had been razed.

Renowned for his passion for jumps racing Mr Glatz, who has had a trainer’s license for several decades, received an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday honours earlier in 2016.

He hit the headlines spectacularly the same year at the Oakbank carnival when he called then Racing Minister Leon Bignell a “dickhead” on Channel 7.

Glatz lashed out after criticism of Oakbank Easter Monday crowds, claiming the government spent “not one cent” on the event and that Bignell “never goes to the races”.

The crisis in the hills is not yet over.

Hills trainers Barry Brook and Kirsten Moody managed to remove their horses and transport them to stables at the Magic Millions complex at Morphettville racecourse but several other trainers have been told not to leave their properties because of the ongoing danger.

They have been a number of scratchings already for the race meeting at Gawler today.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/oakbank-racing-legend-john-glatz-fighting-for-life-after-trying-to-save-his-woodside-house/news-story/03d2670b58d402c7bceb786309f8079c